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A critical consideration in the process of de novo protein architecture design and protein evolution is the folding pathway and behavior a protein undertakes in transitioning to its functional tertiary structure. Of particular interest is a cryptic element within protein primary structure that enables an efficient folding pathway, and is postulated to be a heritable element in the evolution of protein architecture, the "folding nucleus" (FN). However, almost nothing is known regarding how the... Show moreA critical consideration in the process of de novo protein architecture design and protein evolution is the folding pathway and behavior a protein undertakes in transitioning to its functional tertiary structure. Of particular interest is a cryptic element within protein primary structure that enables an efficient folding pathway, and is postulated to be a heritable element in the evolution of protein architecture, the "folding nucleus" (FN). However, almost nothing is known regarding how the FN changes as simpler peptide motifs join to form more complex polypeptides. To this effect, the structure and folding properties of foldable intermediates along the evolutionary trajectory of the β-trefoil protein type were tested. This study specifically used and compared data from Symfoil-4T (an engineered β-trefoil protein) to several mutants to show that the FN is acquired during gene fusion events, incorporating novel turn structure generated by gene fusion. Furthermore, the FN of β-trefoils are adjusted by circular permutation in response to destabilizing functional mutations to allow the survival of FN (which is made possible by the intrinsic C3 cyclic symmetry of β-trefoil architecture) identifying a selective advantage that helps explain extant cyclic structural symmetry in the proteome. Show less

The recent breakthrough in the discovery of Weyl fermions in monopnictide semimetals provides opportunities to explore the exotic properties of relativistic fermions in condensed matter. The chiral anomaly-induced negative magnetoresistance and π Berry phase are two fundamental transport properties associated with the topological characteristics of Weyl semimetals. Since monopnictide semimetals are multiple-band systems, resolving clear Berry phase for each Fermi pocket remains a challenge.... Show moreThe recent breakthrough in the discovery of Weyl fermions in monopnictide semimetals provides opportunities to explore the exotic properties of relativistic fermions in condensed matter. The chiral anomaly-induced negative magnetoresistance and π Berry phase are two fundamental transport properties associated with the topological characteristics of Weyl semimetals. Since monopnictide semimetals are multiple-band systems, resolving clear Berry phase for each Fermi pocket remains a challenge. Here we report the determination of Berry phases of multiple Fermi pockets of Weyl semimetal TaP through high field quantum transport measurements. We show our TaP single crystal has the signatures of a Weyl state, including light effective quasiparticle masses, ultrahigh carrier mobility, as well as negative longitudinal magnetoresistance. Furthermore, we have generalized the Lifshitz-Kosevich formula for multiple-band Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations and extracted the Berry phases of π for multiple Fermi pockets in TaP through the direct fits of the modified LK formula to the SdH oscillations. In high fields, we also probed signatures of Zeeman splitting, from which the Landé g-factor is extracted. Show less

Hadronic form factors for semileptonic decay of the Λ[subscript c] are calculated in a nonrelativistic quark model. The full quark model wave functions are employed to numerically calculate the form factors to all orders in (1/m[subscript c], 1/m[subscript s]). The form factors satisfy relationships expected from the heavy quark effective theory (HQET) form factors. No other semileptonic decays of Λ[subscript c] has been reported other than the decay to the ground state Λ that implies f = B(Λ... Show moreHadronic form factors for semileptonic decay of the Λ[subscript c] are calculated in a nonrelativistic quark model. The full quark model wave functions are employed to numerically calculate the form factors to all orders in (1/m[subscript c], 1/m[subscript s]). The form factors satisfy relationships expected from the heavy quark effective theory (HQET) form factors. No other semileptonic decays of Λ[subscript c] has been reported other than the decay to the ground state Λ that implies f = B(Λ[subscript c]⁺ → Λl⁺ν[subscript l])/B(Λ[subscript c]⁺ → X[subscript s]l⁺ν[subscript l]) = 1. In this work, the differential decay rates and branching fractions are calculated for transitions to the ground state and a number of excited states of Λ. The branching fraction of the semileptonic decay width to the total width of Λ[subscript c] has been calculated and compared with other theoretical estimates and experimental results. The branching fractions for Λ[subscript c] → Λ*l⁺ν[subscript l] → Σπl⁺ν[subscript l] and Λ[subscript c] → Λ*l⁺ν[subscript l] → NǨl⁺ν[subscript l] are also calculated. Apart from decays to the ground state Λ(1115), it is found that decays through the Λ(1405) provide a significant portion of the branching fraction Λ[subscript c] → X[subscript s]lν[subscript l]. There are various conjectures on the structure of the Λ(1405) while we treated it as a three quark state. A new estimate for f = B(Λ[subscript c]⁺ → Λl⁺ν[subscript l] is obtained. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_2017SP_Hussain_fsu_0071E_13920

Format

Thesis

Title

δ/ω-Plectoxin-Pt1a: an excitatory spider toxin with actions on both Ca(2+) and Na(+) channels..

The venom of spider Plectreurys tristis contains a variety of peptide toxins that selectively target neuronal ion channels. O-palmitoylation of a threonine or serine residue, along with a characteristic and highly constrained disulfide bond structure, are hallmarks of a family of toxins found in this venom. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a new toxin, δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a, from this spider venom. It is a 40 amino acid peptide containing an O-palmitoylated Ser-39. Analysis... Show moreThe venom of spider Plectreurys tristis contains a variety of peptide toxins that selectively target neuronal ion channels. O-palmitoylation of a threonine or serine residue, along with a characteristic and highly constrained disulfide bond structure, are hallmarks of a family of toxins found in this venom. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a new toxin, δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a, from this spider venom. It is a 40 amino acid peptide containing an O-palmitoylated Ser-39. Analysis of δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a cDNA reveals a small precursor containing a secretion signal sequence, a 14 amino acid N-terminal propeptide, and a C-terminal amidation signal. The biological activity of δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a is also unique. It preferentially blocks a subset of Ca(2+) channels that is apparently not required for neurotransmitter release; decreases threshold for Na(+) channel activation; and slows Na(+) channel inactivation. As δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a enhances synaptic transmission by prolonging presynaptic release of neurotransmitter, its effects on Na(+) and Ca(2+) channels may act synergistically to sustain the terminal excitability. Show less

δ/ω-Plectoxin-Pt1a: An Excitatory Spider Toxin with Actions on both Ca(2+) and Na(+) Channels.

Creator

Zhou, Yi, Zhao, Mingli, Fields, Gregg B., Wu, Chun-Fang, Branton, W.

Abstract/Description

The venom of spider Plectreurys tristis contains a variety of peptide toxins that selectively target neuronal ion channels. O-palmitoylation of a threonine or serine residue, along with a characteristic and highly constrained disulfide bond structure, are hallmarks of a family of toxins found in this venom. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a new toxin, δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a, from this spider venom. It is a 40 amino acid peptide containing an O-palmitoylated Ser-39. Analysis... Show moreThe venom of spider Plectreurys tristis contains a variety of peptide toxins that selectively target neuronal ion channels. O-palmitoylation of a threonine or serine residue, along with a characteristic and highly constrained disulfide bond structure, are hallmarks of a family of toxins found in this venom. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a new toxin, δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a, from this spider venom. It is a 40 amino acid peptide containing an O-palmitoylated Ser-39. Analysis of δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a cDNA reveals a small precursor containing a secretion signal sequence, a 14 amino acid N-terminal propeptide, and a C-terminal amidation signal. The biological activity of δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a is also unique. It preferentially blocks a subset of Ca(2+) channels that is apparently not required for neurotransmitter release; decreases threshold for Na(+) channel activation; and slows Na(+) channel inactivation. As δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a enhances synaptic transmission by prolonging presynaptic release of neurotransmitter, its effects on Na(+) and Ca(2+) channels may act synergistically to sustain the terminal excitability. Show less

An inverse kinematic proton scattering experiment was performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) using the GRETINA-S800 detector system in conjunction with the Ursinus College liquid hydrogen target. $\gamma$-ray yields from the experiment were determined using geant4 simulations, generating state population cross sections. These cross sections were used to extract the delta_3 deformation length for the low-lying octupole vibration excitations in Ca-48,49 using the... Show moreAn inverse kinematic proton scattering experiment was performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) using the GRETINA-S800 detector system in conjunction with the Ursinus College liquid hydrogen target. $\gamma$-ray yields from the experiment were determined using geant4 simulations, generating state population cross sections. These cross sections were used to extract the delta_3 deformation length for the low-lying octupole vibration excitations in Ca-48,49 using the coupled channels analysis code fresco. Particle-core coupling in Ca-49 was studied in comparison to Ca-48 through determination of the neutron and proton deformation lengths. The total inverse kinematic proton scattering deformation lengths were evaluated for the low-lying octupole vibration excitations in Ca-48,49 to be delta_3(Ca-48, 3^-_1) = 1.0(2)fm, delta_3(Ca-49, 9/2^+_1) = 1.2(1)fm, delta_3 (Ca-49, 9/2^+_1) = 1.5(2)fm, delta_3(Ca-49, 5/2^+_1) = 1.1(1)fm. Proton and neutron deformation lengths for two of these octupole states were also determined to be delta_p(Ca-48, 3^-_1) = 0.9(1)fm, delta_p (Ca-49, 9/2^+_1) = 1.0(1)fm, delta_n(Ca-48, 3^-_1) = 1.1(3)fm, and delta_n(Ca-49, 9/2^+_1) = 1.3(3)fm. Additionally, the ratios of the neutron to proton transition matrix elements were also determined for these two states to be M_n/M_p(Ca-48, 3^-_1) = 1.7(6) and M_n/M_p(Ca-49, 9/2^+_1) = 2.0(5). Statistically, the derived values for these two nuclei are nearly identical. Show less

Date Issued

2015

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-9650

Format

Thesis

Title

βTRCP: Linking Circadian Rhythms and Metabolism.

Creator

Sweeney, Megan C., Department of Biomedical Sciences

Abstract/Description

Shifts in circadian rhythms, like in shift work or jet lag, have been shown to increase the risk of many metabolic disorders. Therefore, it is not surprising that many genes involved in the circadian clock mechanism have demonstrated a regulatory role in metabolism. It has been shown that E3 ubiquitin ligases can influence metabolism as well. In initial studies, my lab created a knockout of two E3 ubiquitin ligases thought to be essential to the clock, βTRCP1/2, in a mouse model in order to... Show moreShifts in circadian rhythms, like in shift work or jet lag, have been shown to increase the risk of many metabolic disorders. Therefore, it is not surprising that many genes involved in the circadian clock mechanism have demonstrated a regulatory role in metabolism. It has been shown that E3 ubiquitin ligases can influence metabolism as well. In initial studies, my lab created a knockout of two E3 ubiquitin ligases thought to be essential to the clock, βTRCP1/2, in a mouse model in order to study the proteasomal degradation machinery in mammals. Upon characterizing the circadian phenotype of this mouse, we noticed an unprecedented, metabolic phenotype after deletion of these vital ligases. These novel mutant mice lose over 30% of their body weight within 5 days while still maintaining an eating and drinking regime similar to wild-type mice. In this project, in vivo and sequence analysis studies aimed to look further into the causes of this phenomenon and the molecular mechanisms underlying them. Show less

Date Issued

2015

Identifier

FSU_migr_uhm-0455

Format

Thesis

Title

¡Guerra Al Metate!: The Visuality of Foodways in Postrevolutionary Mexico City (1920 1960).

This dissertation considers foodways as a vital symbolic and material force in the arts of Mexico’s volatile postrevolutionary reconstruction (1920 – 1960). Although Mexican food history has stood at the forefront of a growing food studies movement, the field has been slow to appropriate image-based methodologies. Likewise, art history has been hesitant to embrace the historical performativity and materiality of foodways. This project thus seeks to fill a gap at the margins of food studies... Show moreThis dissertation considers foodways as a vital symbolic and material force in the arts of Mexico’s volatile postrevolutionary reconstruction (1920 – 1960). Although Mexican food history has stood at the forefront of a growing food studies movement, the field has been slow to appropriate image-based methodologies. Likewise, art history has been hesitant to embrace the historical performativity and materiality of foodways. This project thus seeks to fill a gap at the margins of food studies and art history, particularly at the nexus of indigeneity and urbanization. The dissertation traces the shifting relationships between art and food during a period of rampant modernization, in which the rise of modern cookery through electrical appliances and industrial foodstuffs converged and clashed with the nation’s growing nostalgia for its pre-Columbian heritage. The book focuses on three case studies of artistic production and alimentary consumption—Tina Modotti and pulque, Carlos E. González and mole poblano, and Rufino Tamayo and watermelon—that highlight the various ways in which visual renderings of food were used to frame indigenous culture as both the foundation of and a threat to the modern state. Each case study engages the convergence of racial imaginaries, artistic production, and foodways to show how conflictive attitudes toward indigenous heritage and bodies were made manifest through images of food and foodways. Therefore, this project demonstrates how seemingly innocuous images of foodstuffs and consumption became implicated in a broader visual, experiential, and commercial battle over the definition of nationalist attitudes toward indigeneity. The manuscript consists of five chapters and an appendix. Chapter 1, “Introduction,” surveys Mexican food and art histories and establishes my intersectional framework. Chapter 2, “Nursing the Nation: Pulque and the Indigenous Body in Tina Modotti’s Baby Nursing,” argues that Tina Modotti’s celebrated photograph Baby Nursing (1926) invokes the problematic consumption of pulque, an indigenous fermented beverage, as a metonym for nationalist ideologies that simultaneously celebrate and rebuke indigenous lifeways. Chapter 3, “The ‘Spirit of Mexico’: Consuming Heritage in Café de Tacuba,” demonstrates how an iconic but previously unstudied painting depicting the mythic invention of mole poblano, commissioned for Mexico City’s famous Café de Tacuba (1946), negotiates modern consumption by evoking colonial production. Chapter 4, “Mister Watermelon/Señor Sandía: Fruitful Anxieties in the Work of Rufino Tamayo,” argues that Rufino Tamayo’s still life mural Naturaleza muerta (1954), commissioned for the Sanborns department store café, mediated the state’s aggressive removal of fruteros [informal fruit vendors] by acting as both an icon of Anglophone modernity and a visual celebration of Mexican tropicalia. Chapter 5, “The Colonial in the Contemporary: On the State of Mexican Gastronomy,” presents the book’s conclusions while engaging in a critique of Mexico’s contemporary gastronomic movement and its reliance upon colonial aesthetics to veil Mexico City’s socio-economic fragmentation. The Appendix catalogues recipes for pulque, mole poblano, and watermelon-based dishes, all of which have been compiled from nineteenth- and twentieth-century cookbooks and manuscripts. Show less

A genre of Cuban music known as timba and a genre of Cuban social dance known as casino have often been mistakenly categorized as styles of salsa music and dance. Because of this association, along with political relations between the United States and Cuba, these genres have been marginalized in favor of mainstream salsa. In this thesis, I argue that casino and timba must be understood as distinct genres from an historical perspective. Additionally, I examine casino from a linguistic... Show moreA genre of Cuban music known as timba and a genre of Cuban social dance known as casino have often been mistakenly categorized as styles of salsa music and dance. Because of this association, along with political relations between the United States and Cuba, these genres have been marginalized in favor of mainstream salsa. In this thesis, I argue that casino and timba must be understood as distinct genres from an historical perspective. Additionally, I examine casino from a linguistic perspective and apply principles of linguistic relativity to create a linguistic analogy for social partner dance. By understanding casino and timba as separate from the international salsa phenomenon, they can be studied and appreciated as the unique cultural forms that they truly are. Show less

Chromatin structure plays a critical role in the regulation of the human genome. An understanding of the role of chromatin structure and its relationship to gene regulation is critical to developing new strategies to prevent and treat diseases. We chose to investigate the anti-inflammatory response of human macrophage like cell line (THP1) to Zymosan, in order to elucidate the regulation of chromatin. Zymosan is a component the fungal cell wall that induces an innate immune response. After... Show moreChromatin structure plays a critical role in the regulation of the human genome. An understanding of the role of chromatin structure and its relationship to gene regulation is critical to developing new strategies to prevent and treat diseases. We chose to investigate the anti-inflammatory response of human macrophage like cell line (THP1) to Zymosan, in order to elucidate the regulation of chromatin. Zymosan is a component the fungal cell wall that induces an innate immune response. After THP1 were treated with zymosan, we hypothesized that the fungal infection would initiate an inflammatory response by altering nucleosome redistribution and/or altering chromatin structure in a time dependent manner. Based on previous results that showed rapid, widespread, transient changes in nucleosome distribution in the innate immune response, we chose to look at multiple time points at high temporal resolution: 0 (control), 20', 40', 60', 80', 100', 2h, 3h, 4h and 12h. We measured nucleosome distribution at each of these time points at hundreds of genes transcription start sites involved in the immune response. nucleosome distribution changes in the innate immune response to fungal infection. Show less

Date Issued

2014

Identifier

FSU_migr_uhm-0312

Format

Thesis

Title

Zymosan Fungal Infection Induces Necleosome Distributions During the Innate Immune Response on a Time Dependent Manner.

Creator

Gruder, Olivia, Department of Biological Sciences

Abstract/Description

Chromatin structure plays a critical role in the regulation of the human genome. An understanding of the role of chromatin structure and its relationship to gene regulation is critical to developing new strategies to prevent and treat diseases. We chose to investigate the anti-inflammatory response of human macrophage-like cell line (THP1) to Zymosan, in order to elucidate the regulation of chromatin. Zymosan is a component of the fungal cell wall that induces an innate immune response. After... Show moreChromatin structure plays a critical role in the regulation of the human genome. An understanding of the role of chromatin structure and its relationship to gene regulation is critical to developing new strategies to prevent and treat diseases. We chose to investigate the anti-inflammatory response of human macrophage-like cell line (THP1) to Zymosan, in order to elucidate the regulation of chromatin. Zymosan is a component of the fungal cell wall that induces an innate immune response. After THP1 were treated with Zymosan, we hypothesized that the fungal infection would initiate an inflammatory response by altering nucleosome redistribution and/or altering chromatin structure in a time dependent manner. Based on previous results that showed rapid, widespread, transient changes in nucleosome distribution in the innate immune response, we chose to look at multiple time points at high temporal resolution: 0 (control), 20', 40', 60', 80', 100', 2h, 3h, 4h and 12h. We measured nucleosome distribution at each of these time points at hundreds of genes transcription start sites involved in the immune response. We saw the greatest changes in nucleosome positioning from 20 to 60 minutes, and it appeared that these changes were transient since they reverted back to their original after the 60-minute time point. These results support our prediction that all cells have the same nucleosome distributions during their resting states, but can be altered with the addition of an insult. In response to a stimulus, a biochemical "yawn" occurs to provide accessibility to genes needed to provide a response. The data indicates that widespread but transient changes occur to the entire genome upon response to an environmental stimulus. Show less

Zymancer is an approximately 13 minute work for what is essentially a chamber orchestra, but with just one player to a part. Though it is written and performed as a single movement, there are three main formal sections of the piece that could be considered movements. These three sections are distinct from each other in tempi, meter, harmony, and mood. There is, however, a return of material from the first section at the end of the third.

Limiting undesired interactions of proteins with surfaces is a vital task for implementation of many technologies that require direct exposure to protein media. This includes sensors, single molecule spectroscopy studies, and nanoparticles that would act as vehicles for therapeutic agents or diagnostic agents. Current technology relies on the resistive properties of poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, to protein adsorption. PEG has been therefore the subject of thorough studies to decipher the... Show moreLimiting undesired interactions of proteins with surfaces is a vital task for implementation of many technologies that require direct exposure to protein media. This includes sensors, single molecule spectroscopy studies, and nanoparticles that would act as vehicles for therapeutic agents or diagnostic agents. Current technology relies on the resistive properties of poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, to protein adsorption. PEG has been therefore the subject of thorough studies to decipher the mechanism involved in protein resistivity. The latter has been mainly attributed either to chain mobility, that would suffer from entropic penalty upon protein adsorption, or due to a hydration layer that prevents close encounter of proteins to the surface. Regardless of the mechanism, PEG has been reported to suffer from performance degradation in biological media due to oxidation, and its properties have been reported to differ with temperature. Given their biocompatibility, zwitterions have been proposed as a viable alternative mimicking the cell membrane. Polymeric zwitterions, the most commonly studied alternatives, result in an increase in the hydrodynamic size of particles upon grafting to surfaces. Control over size is essential as it controls the distribution of particles in the body. This work attempts to provide a different approach to nanoparticle stabilization against different aggregating factors to alleviate some of the above mentioned shortcomings of PEG and other polymers. A monomeric zwitterion siloxane was synthesized. The zwitterion siloxane covalently bonds to the oxide surface of nanoparticles without significantly changing their hydrodynamic size. The "zwitterated" particles remain stable even when challenged with high salt solutions or incubated with serum; two factors that are known to induce aggregation. The efficacy of the zwitterionic coating was compared head-to-head with a PEG coating for its ability to prevent protein adsorption to silica nanoparticles. The same siloxane coupling chemistry is employed to yield surfaces with similar coverages of both types of ligand on two geometrically different surfaces (nanoparticlesversusplanar). While both types of surface modification are highly effective in preventing protein adsorption and nanoparticle aggregation, the zwitterion provided monolayer-type coverage with minimal thickness whereas the PEG appeared to yield a more three-dimensional coating. A mechanism is proposed to explain the resistive properties of passivating ligands such as PEG and other neutral surfaces. The role of the passivating ligand is broken down to ion-coupled and ion-decoupled processes. The ion-decoupled process minimizes intermolecular interactions, whereas the ion-coupled mechanism prevents ion pairing between protein and surface charges which releases counterions and water molecules, an entropic driving force enough to overcome a disfavored enthalpy of adsorption. Finally, the synthesis of zwitterated iron oxide nanoparticles by co-precipitation of iron salts in presence of zwitterion siloxane as the stabilizing ligand is reported. This procedure yields superparamagnetic maghemite nanoparticles whose polydispersity varies as a function of the amount of zwitterion siloxane present during synthesis. The latter has the effect of changing the effective hydrodynamic radius of the particles from 5.4 nm to 35 nm. The presence of zwitterions on the surface is validated with thermogravimetric analysis and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform. Magnetization versus applied field data shows the absence of coercive field and low magnetization values attributed to the decreasing particle size as well as the diamagnetic coating. The particles are tested for their possible use as MRI contrast agents. The calculated relaxation rates are low indicating that a high concentration of iron is needed for good contrast. Introduction of amine functionality for incorporation of targeting agents is achieved by the addition of aminopropyltriethoxysilane post-synthesis. The presence of the latter is verified by fluorescence spectroscopy. Show less

Date Issued

2012

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-5611

Format

Thesis

Title

Zora, Color Struck and Weary Blues and Tea with Zora and Marjorie (Three plays about the life of Zora Neale Hurston).

Creator

Speisman, Barbara Waddell

Abstract/Description

A trilogy of three plays based upon the life of Florida-born author, Zora Neale Hurston, which emphasizes Hurston's unique place in American literary history. The plays, Zora, Color Struck and Weary Blues, and Tea with Zora and Marjorie are based on not only interpretations of Zora's works, letters, and conversations with people who remember her, but also the works and letters of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Carl Van Vechten, Fanny Hurst, and Langston Hughes. The three plays present Hurston... Show moreA trilogy of three plays based upon the life of Florida-born author, Zora Neale Hurston, which emphasizes Hurston's unique place in American literary history. The plays, Zora, Color Struck and Weary Blues, and Tea with Zora and Marjorie are based on not only interpretations of Zora's works, letters, and conversations with people who remember her, but also the works and letters of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Carl Van Vechten, Fanny Hurst, and Langston Hughes. The three plays present Hurston first as a child in Eatonville at the turn of the century, then as a young woman during the Harlem Renaissance, and finally in her full maturity. The structure of Zora and Color Struck and Weary Blues is concentrated on two of the most important days of Zora's life, which are the day of her mother's death when she was about 12 and the night of the Opportunity Award's Banquet which launched the Harlem Renaissance. The structure of Tea with Zora and Marjorie is different from the two previous plays because it relates to the period from 1942 until 1952 in the life of not only Zora Hurston but Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, another prominent Florida writer. Show less

This thesis is composed of two parts and makes use of two literary genres: the traditional essay, and a literary form called fictocriticism developed by anthropologist Michael Taussig. Both are integrated in an exploration of the rural Black southern aesthetic—from a solely critical approach with the essay Zora Neale Hurston: Re-assessing the Black Southern Identity, to the analytical fiction advanced in Stone Mill Creek. Re-assessing the Black Southern Identity traces the origin and history... Show moreThis thesis is composed of two parts and makes use of two literary genres: the traditional essay, and a literary form called fictocriticism developed by anthropologist Michael Taussig. Both are integrated in an exploration of the rural Black southern aesthetic—from a solely critical approach with the essay Zora Neale Hurston: Re-assessing the Black Southern Identity, to the analytical fiction advanced in Stone Mill Creek. Re-assessing the Black Southern Identity traces the origin and history of the aesthetic, arguing a case for its most celebrated advocate—novelist, anthropologist and ethnographer Zora Neale Hurston. She almost single-handedly preserved many of the southern folk idioms we treasure today; her novels and folklore collections are glowing examples of the rich, cultural legacy of the rural south. She would transcend the "cultural sanitizing" imposed by the Harlem Renaissance aristocracy by remaining true to her aesthetic inclination, but would die an "unremarked and controversial" figure in 1960. Due to a move from the "cultural correctness" of the 1920s and 30s to a sort of literary and cultural revival that defined the 60s and 70s, Hurston may have become one of the movement's largest benefactors. Both her works and clandestine-like lifestyle has become the source of intense scholarly review and has led to her newly appointed canonical status. The fictocritical work Stone Mill Creek combines four years of ethnographic study, historical accounts, local folklore traditions and cultural commentary in nonlinear narratives. The chapters trace the folk-lives of a "once upon a time" group of Black farmers who settled in the Florida panhandle around the 1820s and allows for more than a theoretical glance at the vernaculars, themes, ideals and symbols representative of those Hurston called "farthest down." The semi-fictive language in Stone Mill Creek is a living, breathing cultural artifact and however reductive, is another distinct, self-defined and documented voice of the Black southern identity. Show less

Date Issued

2006

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-2151

Format

Thesis

Title

Zooarchaeological Remains from the 1998 Fewkes Site Excavations, Williamson County, Tennessee.

Creator

Peres, Tanya M.

Abstract/Description

The Fewkes site faunal assemblage, excavated as part of a Phase III data recovery project for the Tennessee Department of Transportation in 1998, was analyzed and evaluated in light of its potential to provide significant information about Middle Mississippian subsistence practices and environmental conditions of the area during the time of occupation. Specific goals of the analysis included: (1) defining the subsistence strategies and practices of the people that inhabited the site; (2)... Show moreThe Fewkes site faunal assemblage, excavated as part of a Phase III data recovery project for the Tennessee Department of Transportation in 1998, was analyzed and evaluated in light of its potential to provide significant information about Middle Mississippian subsistence practices and environmental conditions of the area during the time of occupation. Specific goals of the analysis included: (1) defining the subsistence strategies and practices of the people that inhabited the site; (2) determining the relationship of the site to the surrounding ecological habitats; and (3) determining the seasonality of the site. Additionally, the Fewkes faunal assemblage was compared to animal exploitation practices as outlined for the Cumberland River drainage model of Mississippian period sites. The results of the analysis of selected contexts are presented here. Show less

Archaeologists have been interested in the foodways of prehistoric peoples for over half a century, leading to a plethora of analyses on diet and subsistence strategies. In the last 30 years, archaeologists have come to focus on the role of food in ideological, political, and social settings. One avenue of exploration into these relationships is through the identification of communal eating events, or feasting. In this thesis I investigate whether or not feasting events occurred at Grand... Show moreArchaeologists have been interested in the foodways of prehistoric peoples for over half a century, leading to a plethora of analyses on diet and subsistence strategies. In the last 30 years, archaeologists have come to focus on the role of food in ideological, political, and social settings. One avenue of exploration into these relationships is through the identification of communal eating events, or feasting. In this thesis I investigate whether or not feasting events occurred at Grand Mound Shell Ring (8Du1), Duval County, Florida. To test this, I compare the faunal assemblage from three discrete deposits (nineteen units and six features) at Grand Mound Shell Ring to archaeological correlates of feasting outlined by three different models (Jackson and Scott 1995; Twiss 2008; VanDerwarker 1999; VanDerwarker et al. 2007). My analysis, based on the faunal material and limited contextual information, found it is likely that communal feasting activities took place at Grand Mound Shell Ring. Show less

This is a report of the zooarchaeological analysis of faunal remains recovered as part of the excavations by archeologists with the Southeastern Archeological Center (SEAC) of the National Park Service at the Totten Key Site (8DA3439) on Totten Key, Miami-Dade County, Florida. This analysis was performed under the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (SA-CESU) Task Agreement Number (P14AC01652) under Cooperative Agreement Number P14AC00882 between the United States... Show moreThis is a report of the zooarchaeological analysis of faunal remains recovered as part of the excavations by archeologists with the Southeastern Archeological Center (SEAC) of the National Park Service at the Totten Key Site (8DA3439) on Totten Key, Miami-Dade County, Florida. This analysis was performed under the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (SA-CESU) Task Agreement Number (P14AC01652) under Cooperative Agreement Number P14AC00882 between the United States Department of the Interior - The National Park Service/Southeast Archeological Center and Middle Tennessee State University (PI Tanya M. Peres, September 2014) (Appendix 1). The Project title is “Documenting Subsistence Strategies in the Southeast Using the National Park Service’s Archeological Resources.” In October 2015, the remainder of the zooarchaeological analysis and reporting was subcontracted by Middle Tennessee State University to Tanya M. Peres at Florida State University (FSU Project# 037433 | MTSU Award# 536858S). Show less

This is a report of the zooarchaeological analysis of faunal remains recovered as part of the excavations by archeologists with the Southeastern Archeological Center of the National Park Service at the Sands Key #2 site (8DA2) (SEAC Acc #1930), located in the Biscayne National Park, Miami-Dade County, Florida. This analysis was performed under the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (SA-CESU) Task Agreement Number (P14AC01652) under Cooperative Agreement Number P14AC00882... Show moreThis is a report of the zooarchaeological analysis of faunal remains recovered as part of the excavations by archeologists with the Southeastern Archeological Center of the National Park Service at the Sands Key #2 site (8DA2) (SEAC Acc #1930), located in the Biscayne National Park, Miami-Dade County, Florida. This analysis was performed under the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (SA-CESU) Task Agreement Number (P14AC01652) under Cooperative Agreement Number P14AC00882 between the United States Department of the Interior - The National Park Service/Southeast Archeological Center and Middle Tennessee State University (PI Tanya M. Peres, September 2014). The Project title is “Documenting Subsistence Strategies in the Southeast Using the National Park Service’s Archeological Resources.” In October 2015, the remainder of the zooarchaeological analysis and reporting was subcontracted by Middle Tennessee State University to Tanya M. Peres at Florida State University (FSU Project# 037433 | MTSU Award# 536858S). The Sands Key #2 faunal assemblage reported on here contains 9,812 specimens weighing 12,791.65 g. The data generated from the zooarchaeological analysis is detailed in this report. Preliminary interpretations about the use of aquatic resources by the Tequesta are offered. Show less

Zooarchaeological Analysis of a Multicomponent Shell-Bearing Site in Davidson County, Tennessee.

Creator

Peres, Tanya M., Deter-Wolf, Aaron, Myers, Gage A.

Abstract/Description

Site 40DV7 is one of several large shell-bearing sites located along the Cumberland River near Nashville which were heavily impacted by catastrophic flooding and looting activity during the spring of 2010. Emergency sampling and ongoing monitoring at 40DV7 since that time have identified deeply-stratified deposits spanning the Archaic through Mississippian periods. These deposits, and particularly the temporally-distinct shell midden components, may help inform our understanding of human... Show moreSite 40DV7 is one of several large shell-bearing sites located along the Cumberland River near Nashville which were heavily impacted by catastrophic flooding and looting activity during the spring of 2010. Emergency sampling and ongoing monitoring at 40DV7 since that time have identified deeply-stratified deposits spanning the Archaic through Mississippian periods. These deposits, and particularly the temporally-distinct shell midden components, may help inform our understanding of human occupation, species interdependence, and environmental change along the Cumberland River over a period of more than 5000 years. Show less

Molecular photophysics and metal coordination chemistry are the two fundamental pillars that support the development of fluorescent cation indicators. In this article, we describe how Zn(II)-coordination alters various ligand-centered photophysical processes that are pertinent to developing Zn(II) indicators. The main aim is to show how small organic Zn(II) indicators work under the constraints of specific requirements, including Zn(II) detection range, photophysical requirements such as... Show moreMolecular photophysics and metal coordination chemistry are the two fundamental pillars that support the development of fluorescent cation indicators. In this article, we describe how Zn(II)-coordination alters various ligand-centered photophysical processes that are pertinent to developing Zn(II) indicators. The main aim is to show how small organic Zn(II) indicators work under the constraints of specific requirements, including Zn(II) detection range, photophysical requirements such as excitation energy and emission color, temporal and spatial resolutions in a heterogeneous intracellular environment, and fluorescence response selectivity between similar cations such as Zn(II) and Cd(II). In the last section, the biological questions that fluorescent Zn(II) indicators help to answer are described, which have been motivating and challenging this field of research. Show less

The occupation mechanism and magnetic transition behavior of trace Zn and P alloying in the sub-rapidly solidified LaFe11.6Si1.4 magnetocaloric plates were investigated. The LaFe11.6Si1.4, LaFe11.6Si1.4Zn0.03, and LaFe11.6Si1.4P0.03 plates were fabricated using the centrifugal casting method in the present work. Experimental results showed that both Zn and P elements were distributed in the La5Si3 and LaFeSi phases during sub-rapid solidification. After annealed at 1373 K for 72 h, the LaFe11... Show moreThe occupation mechanism and magnetic transition behavior of trace Zn and P alloying in the sub-rapidly solidified LaFe11.6Si1.4 magnetocaloric plates were investigated. The LaFe11.6Si1.4, LaFe11.6Si1.4Zn0.03, and LaFe11.6Si1.4P0.03 plates were fabricated using the centrifugal casting method in the present work. Experimental results showed that both Zn and P elements were distributed in the La5Si3 and LaFeSi phases during sub-rapid solidification. After annealed at 1373 K for 72 h, the LaFe11.6Si1.4 plate underwent a second-order magnetic transition, while both the LaFe11.6Si1.4Zn0.03 and LaFe11.6Si1.4P0.03 plates underwent a first-order transition. In combination with X-ray diffraction results, it was proposed that both Zn and P atoms prefer to enter the 96i site substituting for FeII/Si atoms according to the density-functional reconstruction of crystallographic structure. The Zn addition led to a slight decrease in magnetic entropy change from 7.0 to 5.9 J/(kgK), while the P addition strikingly enhanced this property to 31.4 J/(kgK) under a magnetic field change of 3 T. The effective refrigeration capacity of the annealed LaFe11.6Si1.4P0.03 plate reached 189.9 J/kg. Show less

Metal flux synthes is a useful alternative method to high temperature solid state synthesis; it allows easy diffusion of reactants at lower temperatures, and presents favorable conditions for crystal growth. A mixed flux of calcium and lithium in a 1:1 ratio was explored in this work; this mixture melts at 300°C and is an excellent solvent for main group elements and CaH₂. Reactions of p-block elements in a 1:1 Ca/Li flux have produced several new intermetallic and Zintl phases.... Show moreMetal flux synthes is a useful alternative method to high temperature solid state synthesis; it allows easy diffusion of reactants at lower temperatures, and presents favorable conditions for crystal growth. A mixed flux of calcium and lithium in a 1:1 ratio was explored in this work; this mixture melts at 300°C and is an excellent solvent for main group elements and CaH₂. Reactions of p-block elements in a 1:1 Ca/Li flux have produced several new intermetallic and Zintl phases. Electronegative elements from groups 14 and 15 are reduced to anions in this flux, yielding charge-balanced products. More electropositive metals from group 13 are not fully reduced; the resulting products are complex intermetallics. The reactions of tin or lead and carbon in Ca/Li flux produced the analogous phases Ca₁₁Tt₃C8 (Tt = Sn, Pb) in the monoclinic C21/c space group (a = 13.2117(8) Å, b =10.7029(7) Å, c = 14.2493(9) Å, β = 105.650(1)° for the Sn analog). These compounds are carbide Zintl phases that includes the rare combination of C₃⁴ and C₂² units as well as Sn⁴ or Pb⁴ anions. Ca/Li flux reactions of CaH2 and arsenic have produced the Zintl phases LiCa₃As₂H in orthorhombic Pnma (a = 11.4064(7), b = 4.2702(3), c = 11.8762(8) Å), and Ca13As6C0.46N1.155H6.045in tetragonal P4/mbm (a = 15.7493(15), c = 9.1062(9) Å). The complex stoichiometry of the latter phase was caused by incorporation of light element contaminants and was studied by neutron diffraction, showing mixing of anionic sites to achieve charge balance. Ca/Li flux reactions with group 13 metals have resulted in several new intermetallic phases. Reactions of indium and CaH₂ in the Ca/Li flux (with or without boron) formed Ca₅₃In₁₃B₄₋ₓH₂₃(2.4 < x < 4.0) in cubic space group Im-3 (a = 16.3608(6) Å) which features metallic indium atoms and ionic hydride sites. The electronic properties of this "subhydride" were confirmed by ¹H and ¹¹⁵In NMR spectroscopy. Attempts to replace boron with carbon yielded Ca₁₂InC₁₃₋ₓ, (Im-3, a = 9.6055(8)Å) which contains C34- units. A very similar phase, Ba12InC18H4 (Im-3,a = 11.1415(8) Å), was grown from the reaction of indium, carbon, and LiH in Ba/Li flux. This compound also includes C₃⁴ units. Preliminary Ca/Li flux reactions of aluminum with other main group elements have produced several new phases: a hydride clathrate Ca₃₁Al₂H₂₅ in cubic Fd-3m (a=18.0835(15) Å), Ca24Al2(C1-xHx)N2H16 in tetragonal P42/nmc (a=15.9069(12) Å, c=13.7323(10) Å, and Ca4Al2N5 in orthorhombic Pna2₁ (a = 11.2331(1) Å, b=9.0768(8) Å, c=6.0093(5) Å. Show less

Depression, anxiety, and impairments in learning and memory are all associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Because of the strong link between zinc deficiency, depression, and anxiety, in both humans and rodent models, we hypothesized that dietary zinc supplementation prior to injury could provide behavioral resiliency to lessen the severity of these outcomes after TBI. Rats were fed a marginal zinc deficient (5 ppm), zinc adequate (30 ppm), or zinc supplemented (180 ppm) diet for 4... Show moreDepression, anxiety, and impairments in learning and memory are all associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Because of the strong link between zinc deficiency, depression, and anxiety, in both humans and rodent models, we hypothesized that dietary zinc supplementation prior to injury could provide behavioral resiliency to lessen the severity of these outcomes after TBI. Rats were fed a marginal zinc deficient (5 ppm), zinc adequate (30 ppm), or zinc supplemented (180 ppm) diet for 4 weeks followed by a moderately-severe TBI using the well-established model of controlled cortical impact (CCI). Following CCI, rats displayed depression-like behaviors as measured by the 2-bottle saccharin preference test for anhedonia. Injury also resulted in evidence of stress and impairments in Morris water maze (MWM) performance compared to sham-injured controls. While moderate zinc deficiency did not worsen outcomes following TBI, rats that were fed the zinc supplemented diet for 4 weeks showed significantly attenuated increases in adrenal weight (p<0.05) as well as reduced depression-like behaviors (p<0.001). Supplementation prior to injury improved resilience such that there was not only significant improvements in cognitive behavior compared to injured rats fed an adequate diet (p<0.01), there were no significant differences between supplemented and sham-operated rats in MWM performance at any point in the 10-day trial. These data suggest a role for supplemental zinc in preventing cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with TBI. Show less

Zinc deficiency impairs the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells in the central nervous system that participate in neurogenesis. To examine the molecular mechanisms responsible for the role of this essential nutrient in neuronal precursor cells and neuronal differentiation, we identified zinc-dependent changes in the DNA-binding activity of zinc finger proteins and other transcription factors in proliferating human Ntera-2 neuronal precursor cells undergoing retinoic acid... Show moreZinc deficiency impairs the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells in the central nervous system that participate in neurogenesis. To examine the molecular mechanisms responsible for the role of this essential nutrient in neuronal precursor cells and neuronal differentiation, we identified zinc-dependent changes in the DNA-binding activity of zinc finger proteins and other transcription factors in proliferating human Ntera-2 neuronal precursor cells undergoing retinoic acid-stimulated differentiation into a neuronal phenotype. We found that zinc deficiency altered binding activity of 28 transcription factors including retinoid X receptor (RXR) known to participate in neuronal differentiation. Alterations in zinc finger transcription factor activity were not simply the result of removal of zinc from these proteins during zinc deficiency, as the activity of other zinc-binding transcription factors such as the glucocorticoid receptor was increased by as much as twofold over zinc-adequate conditions, and nonzinc-binding transcription factors such as nuclear factor-1 and heat shock transcription factor-1 were increased by as much as fourfold over control. Western analysis did not detect significant decreases in total RXR protein abundance in neuronal precursors, suggesting that the decrease in DNA-binding activity was not simply the result of a reduction in RXR levels in neuronal precursor cells. Rather, use of a reporter gene construct containing retinoic acid response elements upstream from a luciferase coding sequence revealed that zinc deficiency results in decreased transcriptional activity of RXR and reductions in retinoic acid-mediated gene transcription during neuronal differentiation. These results show that zinc deficiency has implications for both developmental and adult neurogenesis. Show less

In addition to the known behavioral and cognitive impairments, including memory deficits, depression, and anxiety associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI), there is an increased risk for new onset heavy weekly drinking, binge drinking, and alcohol-related problems. Our previously published work has shown that zinc supplementation reduced TBI-associated deficits, particularly the depression-like symptom anhedonia and stress-induced anxiety. Our objective was to examine the behavioral and... Show moreIn addition to the known behavioral and cognitive impairments, including memory deficits, depression, and anxiety associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI), there is an increased risk for new onset heavy weekly drinking, binge drinking, and alcohol-related problems. Our previously published work has shown that zinc supplementation reduced TBI-associated deficits, particularly the depression-like symptom anhedonia and stress-induced anxiety. Our objective was to examine the behavioral and cellular outcomes associated with TBI that are complicated by ethanol consumption, as well as the effect of zinc supplementation on these outcomes. Adult male rats were fed a zinc supplemented (180 ppm) or zinc adequate (30 ppm) diet for 4 weeks followed by a moderate TBI using to the medial frontal cortex produced by controlled cortical impact. After injury, rats were given 3 g/kg of ethanol daily for 7 days via gavage. Ethanol intake exacerbated TBI-induced anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors as well inducing recognition memory impairments. Furthermore, zinc supplementation was unable to reduce these behavioral deficits when injury was accompanied by ethanol intake. While ethanol did not worsen learning and memory, zinc supplementation also did not improve Morris water maze performance in ethanol-treated animals. Evidence in the literature has demonstrated that both brain injury and ethanol can regulate neurogenesis. We then wanted to examine the extent to which changes in stem cells are responsible for our behavioral observations. TBI produced a trend towards increased hippocampal stem cells, and zinc supplementation with injury resulted in a significant increase in stem cells 8 days post-injury. Ethanol did not appear to impair TBI or zinc supplemented induced proliferation. There was a small trend towards a decrease in differentiation of these labelled proliferating stem cells with ethanol and TBI combined. Finally, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the role of zinc in neuronal precursor cells and neuronal differentiation were examined. Show less

Changes in zinc homeostasis are strongly associated with abnormal brain function and a variety of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression. It is hypothesized that the neurogenic potential of chronic antidepressant administration contributes to its therapeutic effects in depression. Thus, the goal of this work was to determine the extent to which zinc is needed for antidepressant drug induction of neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Human NTERA-2/D1 ... Show moreChanges in zinc homeostasis are strongly associated with abnormal brain function and a variety of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression. It is hypothesized that the neurogenic potential of chronic antidepressant administration contributes to its therapeutic effects in depression. Thus, the goal of this work was to determine the extent to which zinc is needed for antidepressant drug induction of neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Human NTERA-2/D1 (NT2) cell culture, an established in vitro model system to study neuronal development, was utilized. Zinc deficiency impaired NT2 cell proliferation measured by the number of Ki67-positive cells. Treatment with fluoxetine or lithium did not result in a significant increase in cell proliferation rate. However, six-day treatment with these antidepressants had a stimulatory effect on NT2 cell differentiation revealed by immunofluorecent detection of the neuron-specific marker TuJ1. Furthermore, zinc deficient cultures treated with fluoxetine or lithium appeared to have a decreased expression of this neuronal marker. Taken together, these results suggest that the essential trace element zinc is needed for neuronal stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Show less

Date Issued

2009

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-2197

Format

Thesis

Title

Zinc Regulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation and Survival.

Creator

Hagler, Shaye, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Abstract/Description

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have a wide variety of promising clinical applications including the treatment of brain disorders and injury, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. To fully exploit their potential, we need a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern stem cell division and survival. We have hypothesized that the essential trace element zinc regulates the proliferation and survival of rat and human bone marrow-derived MSC. Proliferation of MSC is... Show moreMesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have a wide variety of promising clinical applications including the treatment of brain disorders and injury, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. To fully exploit their potential, we need a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern stem cell division and survival. We have hypothesized that the essential trace element zinc regulates the proliferation and survival of rat and human bone marrow-derived MSC. Proliferation of MSC is impaired by zinc deficiency. For example, after 48h of zinc deficiency, proliferation was reduced by 50% (p Show less

The multipotent ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to differentiate into a large variety of mature cell types gives them a high potential for use in a variety of therapeutic purposes. Recently, it was discovered that bone marrow derived MSC could be induced to take on a neuronal phenotype through the addition of cobalt chloride (CoCl2) to the growth media. It is also well known that the trace element zinc is vital for both neuronal proliferation and differentiation from neuronal... Show moreThe multipotent ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to differentiate into a large variety of mature cell types gives them a high potential for use in a variety of therapeutic purposes. Recently, it was discovered that bone marrow derived MSC could be induced to take on a neuronal phenotype through the addition of cobalt chloride (CoCl2) to the growth media. It is also well known that the trace element zinc is vital for both neuronal proliferation and differentiation from neuronal precursor cells. Thus, this work tested the hypothesis that zinc plays a role in the differentiation of MSC into neurons. Secondly, because zinc is unable to enter or exit cells without the assistance of zinc transport proteins (ZnT), this work tested the hypothesis that two transport proteins, ZnT-1 and ZnT-4, would be regulated both by zinc and by treatment with cobalt. This work used both cell morphology and markers of neuronal differentiation (TuJ1 and neuronal specific enolase) to show that zinc deficiency (ZD) combined with CoCl2 treatment appeared to induce differentiation of rat MSC. Furthermore, the zinc transporters were differentially regulated such that ZnT-4 was increased on the cell membrane by zinc deficiency, while ZnT-1 levels at the membrane were highest in the combined zinc deficiency-cobalt treatment group. These data implicate zinc in the mechanisms associated with MSC function. Show less

Date Issued

2013

Identifier

FSU_migr_uhm-0235

Format

Thesis

Title

Zinc in the central nervous system: From molecules to behavior..

Creator

Gower-Winter, Shannon D, Levenson, Cathy W

Abstract/Description

The trace metal zinc is a biofactor that plays essential roles in the central nervous system across the lifespan from early neonatal brain development through the maintenance of brain function in adults. At the molecular level, zinc regulates gene expression through transcription factor activity and is responsible for the activity of dozens of key enzymes in neuronal metabolism. At the cellular level, zinc is a modulator of synaptic activity and neuronal plasticity in both development and... Show moreThe trace metal zinc is a biofactor that plays essential roles in the central nervous system across the lifespan from early neonatal brain development through the maintenance of brain function in adults. At the molecular level, zinc regulates gene expression through transcription factor activity and is responsible for the activity of dozens of key enzymes in neuronal metabolism. At the cellular level, zinc is a modulator of synaptic activity and neuronal plasticity in both development and adulthood. Given these key roles, it is not surprising that alterations in brain zinc status have been implicated in a wide array of neurological disorders including impaired brain development, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, and mood disorders including depression. Zinc has also been implicated in neuronal damage associated with traumatic brain injury, stroke, and seizure. Understanding the mechanisms that control brain zinc homeostasis is thus critical to the development of preventive and treatment strategies for these and other neurological disorders. Show less

Neurogenesis is the process of stem cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Recent research has confirmed the presence of ongoing neurogenesis throughout life in humans. This fact has led to vast interest in the mechanisms that underlie this process. Manipulation of adult neurogenesis has the potential to enhance the treatment of a multitude of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression as well as injury and stroke. Previous work... Show moreNeurogenesis is the process of stem cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Recent research has confirmed the presence of ongoing neurogenesis throughout life in humans. This fact has led to vast interest in the mechanisms that underlie this process. Manipulation of adult neurogenesis has the potential to enhance the treatment of a multitude of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression as well as injury and stroke. Previous work has shown that the essential trace metal zinc regulates neuronal precursor proliferation and survival. Thus, this work is based on the central hypothesis that zinc is also needed for neuronal differentiation. Furthermore we proposed that transforming growth factor signaling may be involved in the zinc regulated mechanisms of differentiation. Zinc deficiency (ZD; 0.4µM) impaired the ability of neuronal precursor cells (NT2) to differentiate into mature neurons (NT2-N) when exposed to 2 wks of 10µM retinoic acid (RA), as measured by the early neuronal marker TuJ1. Additionally, we demonstrated a differential regulation of Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β) receptor isoforms type I (RI) and II (RII) under zinc deficient (0.4µM) conditions in NT2 cells undergoing RA-induced differentiation. Measurements of TGF-β RI and RII in zinc adequate (ZA; 2.5µM) differentiated NT2-N neurons showed that neither receptor isoform was expressed in these cells. TGF-β RI was up-regulated in NT2-N cells in response to ZD (0.4µM) however, while TGF-β RII remained down-regulated under ZD (0.4µM) conditions, as demonstrated via TGF-β RI and RII immunocytochemistry. These data confirmed that ZD (0.4µM) does impair RA-induced differentiation of human NT2 neuronal cells. There is also evidence that a differential regulation of the TGF-β receptor I and II isoforms may be involved in this mechanism, as the loss of RII expression in ZD (0.4µM) NT2-N cells could be responsible for a decline in TGF-β signaling in these cells and thus an attenuated cellular response to TGF-β responsive genes. This research suggests an important role for TGF-β and the trace metal zinc in regulating neuronal differentiation, and helps to improve understanding of adult neurogenesis in the human brain. Show less

Date Issued

2008

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-4085

Format

Thesis

Title

Zinc and neurogenesis: making new neurons from development to adulthood..

Creator

Levenson, Cathy W, Morris, Deborah

Abstract/Description

Stem cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation, cell survival, and migration in the central nervous system are all important steps in the normal process of neurogenesis. These mechanisms are highly active during gestational and early neonatal brain development. Additionally, in select regions of the brain, stem cells give rise to new neurons throughout the human lifespan. Recent work has revealed key roles for the essential trace element zinc in the control of both developmental and adult... Show moreStem cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation, cell survival, and migration in the central nervous system are all important steps in the normal process of neurogenesis. These mechanisms are highly active during gestational and early neonatal brain development. Additionally, in select regions of the brain, stem cells give rise to new neurons throughout the human lifespan. Recent work has revealed key roles for the essential trace element zinc in the control of both developmental and adult neurogenesis. Given the prevalence of zinc deficiency, these findings have implications for brain development, cognition, and the regulation of mood. Show less

Zika virus (ZIKV) directly infects neural progenitors and impairs their proliferation. How ZIKV interacts with the host molecular machinery to impact neurogenesis in vivo is not well understood. Here, by systematically introducing individual proteins encoded by ZIKV into the embryonic mouse cortex, we show that expression of ZIKV-NS2A, but not Dengue virus (DENV)-NS2A, leads to reduced proliferation and premature differentiation of radial glial cells and aberrant positioning of newborn... Show moreZika virus (ZIKV) directly infects neural progenitors and impairs their proliferation. How ZIKV interacts with the host molecular machinery to impact neurogenesis in vivo is not well understood. Here, by systematically introducing individual proteins encoded by ZIKV into the embryonic mouse cortex, we show that expression of ZIKV-NS2A, but not Dengue virus (DENV)-NS2A, leads to reduced proliferation and premature differentiation of radial glial cells and aberrant positioning of newborn neurons. Mechanistically, in vitro mapping of protein-interactomes and biochemical analysis suggest interactions between ZIKA-NS2A and multiple adherens junction complex (AJ) components. Functionally, ZIKV-NS2A, but not DENV-NS2A, destabilizes the AJ complex, resulting in impaired AJ formation and aberrant radial glial fiber scaffolding in the embryonic mouse cortex. Similarly, ZIKA-NS2A, but not DENV-NS2A, reduces radial glial cell proliferation and causes AJ deficits in human forebrain organoids. Together, our results reveal pathogenic mechanisms underlying ZIKV infection in the developing mammalian brain. Show less

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus of significant public health concern closely related to other highly pathogenic flaviviruses, such as dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV). With the rise of ZIKV in Brazil in 2015, its potential link to microcephaly and other severe neurological birth defects prompted the World Health Organization to declare ZIKV a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Since this time, numerous studies have provided ample... Show moreZika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus of significant public health concern closely related to other highly pathogenic flaviviruses, such as dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV). With the rise of ZIKV in Brazil in 2015, its potential link to microcephaly and other severe neurological birth defects prompted the World Health Organization to declare ZIKV a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Since this time, numerous studies have provided ample evidence to establish ZIKV as the causative agent of microcephaly, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying these neurodevelopmental defects are not well understood. We therefore establish a tractable experimental model system to investigate the impact of ZIKV on human neural development. We demonstrate that ZIKV efficiently infects human cortical neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, but less efficiently infects other cells along the neural differentiation pathway, including immature cortical neurons. Infected hNPCs further release infectious ZIKV particles. Importantly, ZIKV infection disrupts cell cycle progression and induces cell death in hNPCs contributing to their attenuated growth. Global transcriptome analyses of ZIKV-infected hNPCs reveal transcriptional dysregulation, notably a downregulation of cell-cycle-related genes, highlighting the potential involvement of cell cycle pathways in ZIKV biology. We then study the molecular mechanisms by which ZIKV manipulates the cell cycle in hNPCs and the functional consequences of cell-cycle perturbation on the replication of ZIKV and related flaviviruses. We demonstrate that host cell-cycle disruption is unique to ZIKV among the flaviviruses tested, including DENV and WNV, however similar among the two strains of ZIKV tested, including the prototype Uganda strain and a Puerto Rican strain. ZIKV, but not DENV, infection induces DNA double-strand breaks, triggering the DNA damage response through the ATM/Chk2 signaling pathway, while suppressing activation of the ATR/Chk1 signaling pathway in hNPCs. Furthermore, ZIKV infection impedes the progression of cells through S phase thereby preventing the completion of host DNA replication. Recapitulating the S-phase arrest state with S-phase inhibitors leads to an increase in ZIKV replication, but not of WNV or DENV replication. Together, our results identify hNPCs as a direct target of ZIKV and the damaging impact of ZIKV on the growth of hNPCs. Importantly, our data demonstrate ZIKV’s ability to induce host DNA damage and arrest cell cycle progression, which results in a cellular environment favorable for its replication. As hNPCs generate the cortical neurons during early fetal brain development, the ZIKV-mediated growth retardation likely contributes to the neurodevelopmental defects of the congenital Zika syndrome. Show less

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is associated with neurological disorders of both the CNS and peripheral nervous systems (PNS), yet few studies have directly examined PNS infection. Here we show that intraperitoneally or intraventricularly injected ZIKV in the mouse can infect and impact peripheral neurons in vivo. Moreover, ZIKV productively infects stem-cell-derived human neural crest cells and peripheral neurons in vitro, leading to increased cell death, transcriptional dysregulation and cell... Show moreZika virus (ZIKV) infection is associated with neurological disorders of both the CNS and peripheral nervous systems (PNS), yet few studies have directly examined PNS infection. Here we show that intraperitoneally or intraventricularly injected ZIKV in the mouse can infect and impact peripheral neurons in vivo. Moreover, ZIKV productively infects stem-cell-derived human neural crest cells and peripheral neurons in vitro, leading to increased cell death, transcriptional dysregulation and cell-type-specific molecular pathology. Show less

Zika virus and neural developmental defects: building a case for a cause.

Creator

Ogden, Sarah C., Hammack, Christy, Tang, Hengli

Date Issued

2016-05

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_wos_000375885300013, 10.1007/s11427-016-5053-2

Format

Citation

Title

Zeta regularized products and modular constants.

Creator

Heydari, Shahryar., Florida State University

Abstract/Description

The purpose of this dissertation is to, first outline a theory of Zeta regularized products which will work for sequences of complex numbers, and second to use this theory to compute Zeta regularized products and modular constants for sequences which are integer combinations of a fixed set of complex numbers., The gamma function $\Gamma(z)$ is represented as the ratio of two Zeta regularized products. This relation is then extended to define multiple gamma functions as the ratio of two... Show moreThe purpose of this dissertation is to, first outline a theory of Zeta regularized products which will work for sequences of complex numbers, and second to use this theory to compute Zeta regularized products and modular constants for sequences which are integer combinations of a fixed set of complex numbers., The gamma function $\Gamma(z)$ is represented as the ratio of two Zeta regularized products. This relation is then extended to define multiple gamma functions as the ratio of two corresponding Zeta regularized products. A full account of the functional equations associated with multiple gamma functions is also given. The double gamma function is investigated in detail., Some other special functions are also discussed. Namely Jacobi's theta function $\theta\sb1$, the Weierstrass sigma function $\sigma(z),$ and $P(z\vert\tau)$ defined by, The determinant of the Laplacian on an n-dimensional flat Torus is computed for $n \geq$ 2, by computing Show less

Date Issued

1992, 1992

Identifier

AAI9234228, 3087894, FSDT3087894, fsu:76704

Format

Document (PDF)

Title

Zero Harm During Transitions in Care- Post Implementation Evaluation.

Creator

Drinkwater, Bliss Hahn

Abstract/Description

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of and adherence to the Zero Harm During Transitions in Care process for a full year post implementation.

Date Issued

2020-04-23

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1587689347_f73759bf

Format

Citation

Title

Zeitfreiwillige and Freikorpskämpfer Paramilitaries of Early Weimar Germany.

Creator

Ellis, David Sloan, Grant, Jonathan A., Williamson, George S., Koslow, Jennifer Lisa, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of History

Abstract/Description

During the early years of the Weimar Republic paramilitary organizations were commonplace. With the dissolution of the Imperial Army after the German defeat in World War I, the new republican government needed a means to ensure its authority and fostered volunteer troops known as Freikorps. These units could be raised and led by any with both the financial and charismatic means to do so and held no uniform model or political motivation. They saw the most action during the German Revolution,... Show moreDuring the early years of the Weimar Republic paramilitary organizations were commonplace. With the dissolution of the Imperial Army after the German defeat in World War I, the new republican government needed a means to ensure its authority and fostered volunteer troops known as Freikorps. These units could be raised and led by any with both the financial and charismatic means to do so and held no uniform model or political motivation. They saw the most action during the German Revolution, along the Eastern Border, and in the Ruhr. Their campaigns during the Revolution secured the position of the new administration but split the Labor Parties which prevented a majority government from forming for much of the 1920s. The string of short-lived cabinets prevented the stabilization of the Weimar Government, provided strong extra-constitutional powers to the President, and created the opportunity for previously fringe radical parties to become legitimate coalition members. After the acceptance of the Treaty of Versailles and the implementation of its restrictions, these units became highly disillusioned and hostile towards the Weimar Government and drifted towards the political Right. Led by nationalistic generals and political officials who wanted to reject the Treaty, the Freikorps units that emerged from the Revolution attempted several times to violently overthrow the government, but none would succeed. Their failures and the continued pressure of the Entente to disband all paramilitaries pushed the remaining Freikorps fighters into police units, the border guard, secret military reserves, and labor groups. They would reappear whenever Germany’s borders became threatened, but gradually lost support in the stability of the Golden Age of Weimar in the mid-1920s. Unwilling to accept the government and wholly disperse, Freikorps members moved into politics itself via war veteran organizations and the growing Right-wing parties. Having fought to support and later destroy the Weimar Government, they knew the only way to bring about the change they wanted to see would be to enter the system itself. Raised to provide authority to the Republic, the Freikorps greatly weakened the political Left, allowed the Right time to recuperate, bolstering their ranks in the 1930s. Show less

Zaffron is the story of an illiterate, lower-class Muslim girl from south India sold into prostitution in Bombay. She and her friends attempt to start a small business to escape the flesh trade, but when they are not paid for their honest labor, they resort to blackmail in an attempt to collect their debt. When the incriminating camera-phone is confiscated, and a police commissioner murdered, Zaffron must work with an upper-class, well-educated Hindu policewoman to recover the phone and save... Show moreZaffron is the story of an illiterate, lower-class Muslim girl from south India sold into prostitution in Bombay. She and her friends attempt to start a small business to escape the flesh trade, but when they are not paid for their honest labor, they resort to blackmail in an attempt to collect their debt. When the incriminating camera-phone is confiscated, and a police commissioner murdered, Zaffron must work with an upper-class, well-educated Hindu policewoman to recover the phone and save both their lives. The women must set aside cultural and religious differences and learn to trust one another. The story explores contemporary India including complex issues of gender, culture, religion, third-world politics, and human trafficking. It is based—in parts—on a true story. Show less

We study the applicability of the Z-Sum approach to multi-loop calculations with massive particles in perturbative quantum field theory. We systematically analyze the case of one-loop scalar integrals, which represent the building blocks of any higher-loop calculation. We focus in particular on triangle one-loop integrals and identify strengths and limitations of the Z-Sum approach, extending our results to the case of one-loop box integrals when appropriate. We conclude with the calculation... Show moreWe study the applicability of the Z-Sum approach to multi-loop calculations with massive particles in perturbative quantum field theory. We systematically analyze the case of one-loop scalar integrals, which represent the building blocks of any higher-loop calculation. We focus in particular on triangle one-loop integrals and identify strengths and limitations of the Z-Sum approach, extending our results to the case of one-loop box integrals when appropriate. We conclude with the calculation of a specific physical example: the calculation of heavy flavor corrections to the renormalized scattering amplitude for deep inelastic scattering. Show less

Supersymmetric grand unified models based on the SO(10) gauge group are especially attractive in light of recent data on neutrino masses. The simplest SO(10) SUSY GUT models predict unification of third generation Yukawa couplings (t –b – Ƭ) in addition to the usual gauge coupling unification. An assessment of the viability of such Yukawa unified models is presented. For the superpotential Higgs mass parameter μ>0, it is found that unification to less than 1% is possible, but only for GUT... Show moreSupersymmetric grand unified models based on the SO(10) gauge group are especially attractive in light of recent data on neutrino masses. The simplest SO(10) SUSY GUT models predict unification of third generation Yukawa couplings (t –b – Ƭ) in addition to the usual gauge coupling unification. An assessment of the viability of such Yukawa unified models is presented. For the superpotential Higgs mass parameter μ>0, it is found that unification to less than 1% is possible, but only for GUT scale scalar mass parameter m16 ~ 8 – 20 TeV, and small values of gaugino mass m1/2 ≤ 150 GeV. Such models require tha a GUT scale mass splitting exists amongst Higgs scalars with m2Hu < m2Hd. Viable solutions lead to a radiatively generated inverted scalar mass hierarchy, with third generation and Higgs scalars being lighter than other sfermions. These models have a very heavy sfermions, so that unwanted flavor changing and CP violating SUSY processes are suppressed, but may suffer from some fine-tuning requirements. While the generated spectra satisify b → sγ and (g – 2)μ constraints, there exists tension with the dark matter relic density unless m16 ≤ 3TeV. These models offer prospects for SUSY discovery at the Fermilab Tevatron collider via the search for W1Z2 → 3l events, or via gluino pair production. If μ < 0, Yujawa coupling unification to less than 5% can occur for m16 and m 1/2≥ 1 – 2 TeV. Consistency of negative μ Yukawa unified models with b → sγ, (g – 2)μ, and relic density Ωh2 all imply very large values of m1/2 typically greater than about 2.5 TeV, in which case direct dection of sparticles may be a challenge even at the LHC. To address the tension between Yukawa unification and the excess of dark matter that the μ>0 models tend to predict, a couple of possible improvements are surveyed. One solution- lowering the GUT scale mass value of first and second generation scalars, leads to uR and cR squark masses in the 90 – 120 GeV regime, which should be accessible to Fermilab Tavatron experiments. Another possibility is relaxing gaugino mass universality which may solve the relic density problem by having neutralino annihilations via the Z or h resonances, or by having a wino-like LSP. Show less

Date Issued

2004

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-0037

Format

Thesis

Title

The yrast rotational bands of selenium-74 and krypton-77.

Creator

Gross, Carl J., Florida State University

Abstract/Description

New states in the positive parity yrast bands of $\sp{74}$Se and $\sp{77}$Kr have been observed with the reactions $\sp{52}$Cr($\sp{28}$Si,$\alpha$2p)$\sp{74}$Se and $\sp{52}$Cr($\sp{28}$Si,2pn)$\sp{77}$Kr at 98 MeV. The target consisted of approximately 1 mg/cm$\sp2$ natural chromium (84% $\sp{52}$Cr abundance) evaporated on a thick lead backing., The new states extend the known level scheme of $\sp{74}$Se up to I$\sp{\pi}$ = (22$\sp+$) and most of the transitions in the other previously... Show moreNew states in the positive parity yrast bands of $\sp{74}$Se and $\sp{77}$Kr have been observed with the reactions $\sp{52}$Cr($\sp{28}$Si,$\alpha$2p)$\sp{74}$Se and $\sp{52}$Cr($\sp{28}$Si,2pn)$\sp{77}$Kr at 98 MeV. The target consisted of approximately 1 mg/cm$\sp2$ natural chromium (84% $\sp{52}$Cr abundance) evaporated on a thick lead backing., The new states extend the known level scheme of $\sp{74}$Se up to I$\sp{\pi}$ = (22$\sp+$) and most of the transitions in the other previously reported bands have been seen. For the states I$\sp{\pi}$ $\geq$ 6$\sp+$ the spectrum shows a relatively constant moment of inertia parameter $(\hbar\sp2$/2$\Theta)$ = 27.8 $\pm$ 0.5 keV., Excited positive parity states up to spin (41/2) have been observed in $\sp{77}$Kr. $\Delta$I = 1 transitions have been identified throughout the positive parity band. The energies, mixing ratios and B(M1) transition rates for these transitions alternate in size as the spin increases. A cranked shell model analysis was performed along with Strutinsky-Bogolyubov cranking calculations. The observed decrease in the signature splitting of the $\nu$g$\sb{9/2}$ band has been attributed to a band crossing due to an aligning pair of g$\sb{9/2}$ protons. Prolate quadrupole deformations of $\beta\sb2$ = 0.34 for the ground band and $\beta\sb2$ = 0.26 for the first excited band are predicted. This band crossing is associated with a shape change caused by the polarization effect of aligned quasiparticles. Show less

Date Issued

1987, 1987

Identifier

AAI8805664, 3086780, FSDT3086780, fsu:76255

Format

Document (PDF)

Title

YOUTHFUL OFFENDER'S AGGRESSIVE AND AUTONOMIC REACTIONS TO STRESS AS A FUNCTION OF RACE OF EXAMINER AND RACE OF SUBJECT.

Research often excludes youth participants, omitting their social and psychological realities, undermining their rights to participate and benefit from research, and weakening the validity of research. Researchers may be discouraged from including youth due to logistical (e.g. gaining access) or ethical (e.g. coercion risks based on developmental level) concerns. Increased discussion is needed around appropriate methods to use with child and youth participants that manage challenges related... Show moreResearch often excludes youth participants, omitting their social and psychological realities, undermining their rights to participate and benefit from research, and weakening the validity of research. Researchers may be discouraged from including youth due to logistical (e.g. gaining access) or ethical (e.g. coercion risks based on developmental level) concerns. Increased discussion is needed around appropriate methods to use with child and youth participants that manage challenges related to developmental capacities, legal status, power differentials, and unpredictable aspects of qualitative research. This paper pools experiences of six researchers, describing solutions we have developed in studies employing varied qualitative methodologies with varied vulnerable youth sub-populations. We detail successful approaches to access, compensation, consent, assent, and confidentiality. Social work researchers are well suited to navigate the challenges, and we share our examples with the aim of facilitating increased youth participation in research. Show less

A new paradigm for running youth orchestras is needed in order to reduce redundancy, increase efficiency, deal with reduced budgets in many music programs, and create a sustainable infrastructure for the creation of youth orchestras. Large metropolitan areas often have exemplary youth orchestra systems, but smaller cities and underserved areas may not have the resources like a full time staff, business processes, communications technology, and available sheet music to maintain a youth... Show moreA new paradigm for running youth orchestras is needed in order to reduce redundancy, increase efficiency, deal with reduced budgets in many music programs, and create a sustainable infrastructure for the creation of youth orchestras. Large metropolitan areas often have exemplary youth orchestra systems, but smaller cities and underserved areas may not have the resources like a full time staff, business processes, communications technology, and available sheet music to maintain a youth orchestra even though the area could artistically sustain one. Using knowledge from current business, nonprofit, and music education research, this document proposes an innovative approach to systematically organize and administrate youth orchestras by combining the best practices of various fields in order to tackle some of the biggest challenges to youth orchestras today. Youth Educational Symphonies (YES!) is a nonprofit franchise business model for establishing and maintaining youth orchestras. Nonprofit franchising, commonly referred to as "social franchising" in the social services sector, is a burgeoning area of entrepreneurship designed to target needs by using repeatable processes. A youth orchestra or entrepreneurial conductor will be able to "plug into" the YES! franchise to administrate the billing, accounting, payroll, publicity materials, communications, ticketing, business infrastructure, music library, string bowings, and Orchestra Manager training. By joining the YES! organization, member youth orchestras will acquire a business infrastructure specializing in the area of youth orchestras. The business systems and opportunities offered with YES! membership also include: website design and hosting, recruiting materials, an operations manual, a lending library of youth orchestra repertoire, new music written for youth orchestra, student scholarships, instrument and equipment outsourcing, consulting and training, and an organization-wide annual summer symphony festival called SForzando. This franchise model for the Youth Educational Symphonies attempts to provide the business-side infrastructure needed for an entrepreneurial conductor or a group of qualified music teachers to start up or maintain a youth orchestra in their community quickly, effectively, and sustainably. Show less